The National tribune., 1887-06-16

33 miles away. They were induced TO assume the
obligation of the q. r.. aud they became 40 enthn-
siasic thatthey demanded that the first Post should
be organized an their city. Dr. stephenson, oeh.
jules &. Mebher, and. think, Maj, Wood. now
publisher 81 the Republican at Joliet. III, and
Others went 10 Decatur and organized the first Post
of tie g AR. My wife was very sick nj the time,
aud was unable 10 go with the party. Among
those mustered in M Decatur were three printers
working on Win Mosser's Republican, aud 10 them
entrusted the printing uf the work, taken from
my original manuscript. by the way, the muster
much graudcr and more impressive than me
now IN use. ] believe that Maj. Alfred A.
North. Of Springfield. H., has copy OF The
printed ritual Of that date, aud that is the
only one ] know of Ia existence. The week
following tie muster OF ihe Decatur Post Stephen
son Post, No. ?. WAS instituted Ia Springfield. anu
I think. Sen. Thos. Nather. now an honored clu-
zen of that city. was the first Commander. Al that
time officers were elected each quarter. ! was Sc
locpd Adiuiani the second quarter, and held Tie
Office for threc consecutive quarters was care
ful TO keep good record. aud by a singular CIR
cumStance the old books kept by me as Post AdJu-
tRnt were found about two years ago M a boh lh "a
garnet over store ia Springfield, and, believe,
are now sacrcdy guarded 10y Stephenson Post, as
ample proof of the early history Of the Order IN
the meantime Dr. Stephenson devoted his ener-
gies hS funds and finally his life 10 the Interests
of this beloved child of his creation. Extensive
rooms were opened above Ndgely's Bank, ana
had the honor 60 act ns ls Secretary or Adluiant-
General. Mastering Officers were sent INTO
the field, aud Posts were being rapidly organized,
not only Rn Illinois but in other States we sent
charters aud outfits to any point desired upon re-
ceipt of so. aud am proud To say that with my
own hand signed charter and sent II, WITH the
outfit, To Little Rock, Ark in the summer oil $500
aud there .nrades now IN tins ciy-fort
Smith--Nho were mustered in under thai chailef.
ln May, 1860, convention was called To meet az
Springfield, aud there the first Department En-
campncm was held, aud Gen. Jno. VI. Palmer:
still living Ia Springfield, elected ProNlslonal
Commander. In November. lS66,-not IN August,
as Mai. Wilson has it,-a Convention of Posts was
held ln indianapolis, Ind and there the order was
reorganized as a National one, and Gen; stephen
A. Hurlbut-not Gen. Rob't $. Foster, "a alleged 10y
Mai. Mison-was elected the FIRST Commander,ln-
Chief of the Grand Army OF the Republic ana MAJ.
Benz T. Stephenson was elected Acknowledgment
Before DT. Stephenson left Springfield To attend the
meeting at indianapolis. made out Ia ulpioaie
from the vouchers IN hand bill Tor money
actually expended 10y Dr. Stephenson to the
amount 81 81 800 This represented bat tyihe OF
the money lac had expended in building up his
Dc owed order. Ia fact he had impoverished HIM
self Al the meeting his accounts were presented,
hut the pOlit was wei taken that nothing coula he
done az there WAS no money ia the treasury. But
Gen John A. Logan, may God rest hls SOU IN
peace. arose and said. Comrades. know Sen.
Stephenson has worked hard IN instiluting TINS
Order. i know him well and love HIM personally,
and esteem u a privilege to help reimburse lnm
In part aud here is $50" Others added 10 the sum-
but only "A small portion of the amount expended
10y hlm was ever restored TO DIR. Stephenson. Two
years later the noble. great hearted soldier lald
down his life and his body now rests IA lovely
spot ia a cemetery in Petersburg. H., where
trust the comrades will soon that an appropri-
ate monument shall mark the last resting place OF
Benz j.. Stephenson. the founder OF the GRAND
Army ofthe Republic.
DAKOTA
ID. u. Murray, Rapid City: Memorial Day was
observed at this place with appropriate ceremony
] 10y Post Nc. %.
ILLINOIS,
Coblnntz Post, No. 272 Yale. has adopted resolu
tions of thanks 10 Prof zones and his school foi
/ their assistance on Memorial Day.
NJ. Il. Jones Nashville; The program Of exercises
for Memorial Day, under the direction OF Col Loul'
Krughofi, assisted by Capt Jacob May. was carried
out IA "A very satisfactory manner. The weather
was beautiful and everything was favorable for th'
occasion. The procession formed on the PuDll'
Square at 10 O'Clock sharp and marched TO thu
cemeteries, where comrades and friends rendered
! the homage due patriots who have died for theli
country according 10 the CA r. ritual After the ex
ercises the procession moved TO krugboifs Grove
where they were ably entertained by Rev. Fred l.
Thomson and Mai j. III. Criswell, of lndianola
/ Neb., the Major being in our city on professions
business The attendance WAS very large and th'
occasion gratifying 10 the veterans.
INDIANA
Mcpherson Post. Charlottesville, appropriated,
observed Memorial Day.
KANSAS
j. w Ewing Solomon City: Memorial Day wa
| observed at this place with appropriate services
The graves Of the Federais and Coniederates wer'
J. X Thompson, ingalls,: Cedron Post No. 2s6
is alive aud active Our Camptires are all largel.
| attended.
b. Il. Prather. Havana Candy Post, consisting O
"a charter members, was mustered la at this poin
recently by j. . Way, Commander of MePhersoi
Post, No. 4, Independence assisted by othe
comrades Of Mcpherson Post. The officers installe
in the Post Commander, w. l.. Curtis
SV. C.. w. w. Ross; J.N. C., IL. IL. Wade; Adj
u. y. Prather; q; NJ, A. Mendenhall; Surg {
Rice; Chap d. Knock o. ID. NJ. IL. Homer
o. c.. X. PAUL; =. NJ, q. A. Beck; q. NJ. =
/ w. Brown. Everything passed OF tremendously
aud there several other old soldiers who an
going TO present their applications at our nel
meeting.
MICHIGAN
I'D Irwin, Wayne: Owing TO the inclemency
the weather our Memorial services were not Q
/ complete NJ desired, but we did our duty III
best we could. The school turned out in procc
sion from lowest TO highest class. escorted 10y d.
tachment of Cory Post, with the beautiful flag pr
scented by the M.R.C. at the head Of the columI
marched from school 10 Post headquarters, wheI
the Post fell la line and marched 10 the cemeteT!
Here the procession formed hollow squal
around "A cenolaph erected by the W.R.C., and III
Ritual ceremony was performed; then the schOo
under the guidance of Prof Mead, decorated III
) graves of our dead comrades. Returning the ia
e promptu ceremony of decorating the graves Of IL
unknown was performed.
r Samuel Dickey, White Pigeon: Will you pull
lisa ior the Denehl OF the comrades oil The 1;A.l
. that one Chas. Hadley, alias Kingsley, alias l..
. Cooper, alias Wilson. now somewhere IN the sta
II of New York. and carrying forged letter purpoT
Il ing 10 be a written travelling card signed by Con
y mander J.. Kelly and atiesed Samuel Dcke
u Adiutant, Elliott Post, ll5 Department Mchiga
4 is the sickest and basest Of frauds and forgers
y / came TO ls "a total wreck. nad eEJllepilc MS Oi
e after the other and worked upon our sympathy
d the tune of 3d. Hewent 30 Elkhart. Ind and stru'
a comrade there for 81. The next place we heal
from him was at Grand Haven, then at Hollan
then IOnia, then ST. Johns. All these in Micl
a gan. Next comes a letter from Minnesota, Ia,
{ one from Cleveland aud Wisconsin, and the Ia
e comes from the State Of New York. All the
q places lac has Vicimized for more or less money.
d Is about five feet eight inches ia hight, horid col
e pleXion, dark musiache, walks like a sickly pc
q son. claims TO have been wounded p times, alnlC
e disembowed. trepanned on back of his head, rig
- arm broken between wrist and elbow; two woun
;, on left foot one above, another below, his ank
lie came here under the name OF Chas. ladley
- member of Post in ~. Paul. MINI. Command
y Kelly not having time 10 write letter for him. ga
y him sheet of our Post letter paper containing
- years roster of officers on the side and the n
= ter OF the members. with company and regime
e ON the other side. and mark ed his name, l.. Kel
,, aud Comrade Tobias's name so that he could se
"a their money back To them. Upon that sheet Of
- per he has forged travelling card, assuming
- name of l.. g.. Cooper, 18th Mich. battery, up
"a which lac has been travelling and raising mon
n through the State OF Michigan; under the MAJ
'h of Kingsley ia Ohio. aud Wilson in New York.
W ]. u Marks. Slarrville: Harvig Tucker Post.
VI 229. Marine City, LAS membership of 40 and IL
IA lively condition. They have quite a number
a. applications for membership, and we hope 10 hi
a. at least 30 by January, 1855 The officers a
~ Commander Harrison Nromer; s. V. C.,
Adams; j. V. C., l. y. Marks; Chap, j. Is. Iuc
~ AdTt Henry STREET; q. NJ. :. w. Haden; o.
~ H. Manchester >. NJ, Geo. Cobedck; a. nj.
"a d. Hill.
Ga MINNESOTA
Dn May 80 being the first effort ever made by ,
ay citizens or Post 10 observe Memorial bay, i W
cd 10 give the readers of THE NATIONAL TRIBUHI
small idea of how IL done. bearing la m
nd that during the war this county Norman had -,
pa single white settler, but the home of" Io
he the Buffalo. The county is now covered with "
ing fields of wheat, and Ada, the seat Of COVE